Some rhymes are just so violent!
So here's a softer version of Rock A Bye Baby
Rock A Bye Baby
On the Tree Top
When the Wind Blows,
The Cradle Will Rock
If the Bough Breaks,
the Leaves Will Break Your Fall
And Down Will Come Safely,
My Baby, Cradle and All!
Here are two additional verses of a rhyme my baby likes a lot:
Mary Mary Quite Contrary
How Does Your Garden Grow?
With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells
And Pretty Maids All In A Row...
With Butterflies, and Bumble Bees
And Yellow Birds up in the Sky
With Flowers White, and Flowers Pink,
And Green Green Grass by the Side
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Baby sponge
Monday, June 14, 2010
Baby sponge
My baby - now a toddler - is a little sponge!I sing to her, we speak to her constantly and just like that, suddenly, she's throwing all these words back at usshe can say, 'no no' with a twinkle in her eye, and 'yea yea' with a little smileI sing to her Two little dicky birds sitting on a Wall, and she says Wowl (silent l), one named peter one named paul and she says Pow(l) then I tell her I'll be putting cream on kaal (leg in tamil) and she say Kaw(l)!I sing wheels on the bus go round and round, and she says 'roun'now everything is Athiya athiya - Athiya will feed herself, drink water herself go everywhere herself!Door, Doll, Ball, back, quack, cluck, hiss, miaw, pia, dog, boo (for moo)how fun!
Baby sponge
My baby - now a toddler - is a little sponge!I sing to her, we speak to her constantly and just like that, suddenly, she's throwing all these words back at usshe can say, 'no no' with a twinkle in her eye, and 'yea yea' with a little smileI sing to her Two little dicky birds sitting on a Wall, and she says Wowl (silent l), one named peter one named paul and she says Pow(l) then I tell her I'll be putting cream on kaal (leg in tamil) and she say Kaw(l)!I sing wheels on the bus go round and round, and she says 'roun'now everything is Athiya athiya - Athiya will feed herself, drink water herself go everywhere herself!Door, Doll, Ball, back, quack, cluck, hiss, miaw, pia, dog, boo (for moo)how fun!
baa baa
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Baa Baa
And it's begun!Baby (or should I say toddler? she's always baby to me somehow!)Baby gets into the car, points her index finger to the sky and demands.. "Baa Baa"and we have to play baa baa black sheep for her.. over and over and over again!this is exasperation mingled with pride and lovethe question is baa baa black sheep a politically incorrect song does arise in my head - a minor aside for nowthe worst of it all is, I have nursery rhyme ditties in my head all day and night long now! how I long for some grown up music in my head!Baa Baa is significant for our baby in her own way though - our new zealand trip, if nothing else, she developed a love for those baa baas! any stretch of green and she'd be on the look out for those wooly friends of hers. plus it was the first animal she got up close and personal with, daring to reach out and touch their fur, on a farm visit. till then, she used to shy away from real animals (pictures ones were okay)so with the baa baa, she got to appreciate nature, experience relating the picture to the real thing and even tried petting and feeding them!and now this rhyme! who knows what it reminds her of?
Baa Baa
And it's begun!Baby (or should I say toddler? she's always baby to me somehow!)Baby gets into the car, points her index finger to the sky and demands.. "Baa Baa"and we have to play baa baa black sheep for her.. over and over and over again!this is exasperation mingled with pride and lovethe question is baa baa black sheep a politically incorrect song does arise in my head - a minor aside for nowthe worst of it all is, I have nursery rhyme ditties in my head all day and night long now! how I long for some grown up music in my head!Baa Baa is significant for our baby in her own way though - our new zealand trip, if nothing else, she developed a love for those baa baas! any stretch of green and she'd be on the look out for those wooly friends of hers. plus it was the first animal she got up close and personal with, daring to reach out and touch their fur, on a farm visit. till then, she used to shy away from real animals (pictures ones were okay)so with the baa baa, she got to appreciate nature, experience relating the picture to the real thing and even tried petting and feeding them!and now this rhyme! who knows what it reminds her of?
the breastfeeding journey
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Breast Feeding Journey
I had to record this for I'd forget otherwisedate when I stopped breastfeeding: April ... (see I forgot already! - it was 2 weeks ago) - April 30 2010having breastfed baby for 16 months - woo hoo!okay, complete breastfeeding only for 4 months but still..I was actually going to stop at about 13 months but then we went to New Zealand and she fell sick and we re-started breast feeding to help her keep some food in and fight the bacteria and that got us started again!So funny this whole breastfeeding issue: when we started, we said it with great pride - for it was being encouraged by all doctors and through campaigns and posters - that breast milk was bestthat was till baby was 6 months old.then some people looked on in admiration while others tried to dissuade when I continued to breast feed past 6 monthsthen come 12 months, I had to keep it secret! because almost no one would encourage it anymore. except my mum which was very ironic, considering that intially she was the one who was insisting breast milk is completely insufficient for the baby and that formula was essential!oh well!personally, I've very happy and very blessed to have been able to breast feed for 16 months. it really helped me bond with my darling and honestly we both are really close! I mean, that is something really only mummy can do - all things else anyone else can do and was most most happy and willing to do - feed, change, bathe, dress play ... breast feeding however.. ha! only one!I think it was like this:complete breastfeeding: 0 - 4 monthsbreast feeding plust one feed formula: 5 - 8 monthsbaby rice introduced: 5 monthsbreast milk and baby rice: 8 - 9 months (india at that time, I did not bottle feed at all)breast milk, baby rice and one feed formula - 9 - 11 monthsbreast milk, 2 - 3 feeds formula and solids (rice and paruppu etc) - 11 - 14 months1 feed breast milk at night - 14 - 16 months
The Breast Feeding Journey
I had to record this for I'd forget otherwisedate when I stopped breastfeeding: April ... (see I forgot already! - it was 2 weeks ago) - April 30 2010having breastfed baby for 16 months - woo hoo!okay, complete breastfeeding only for 4 months but still..I was actually going to stop at about 13 months but then we went to New Zealand and she fell sick and we re-started breast feeding to help her keep some food in and fight the bacteria and that got us started again!So funny this whole breastfeeding issue: when we started, we said it with great pride - for it was being encouraged by all doctors and through campaigns and posters - that breast milk was bestthat was till baby was 6 months old.then some people looked on in admiration while others tried to dissuade when I continued to breast feed past 6 monthsthen come 12 months, I had to keep it secret! because almost no one would encourage it anymore. except my mum which was very ironic, considering that intially she was the one who was insisting breast milk is completely insufficient for the baby and that formula was essential!oh well!personally, I've very happy and very blessed to have been able to breast feed for 16 months. it really helped me bond with my darling and honestly we both are really close! I mean, that is something really only mummy can do - all things else anyone else can do and was most most happy and willing to do - feed, change, bathe, dress play ... breast feeding however.. ha! only one!I think it was like this:complete breastfeeding: 0 - 4 monthsbreast feeding plust one feed formula: 5 - 8 monthsbaby rice introduced: 5 monthsbreast milk and baby rice: 8 - 9 months (india at that time, I did not bottle feed at all)breast milk, baby rice and one feed formula - 9 - 11 monthsbreast milk, 2 - 3 feeds formula and solids (rice and paruppu etc) - 11 - 14 months1 feed breast milk at night - 14 - 16 months
Sleep Training Diary
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Sleep Training Diary
Tear drops in her eyes
Downturned lips
Quivering chin and nose
My baby is about to cry
She wants mummy to pick her up
Doesn't understand why
Mummy doesn't pick her up
Sleep baby sleep
We love you baby
Hard lesson
Harder for mummy
Perhaps
Sleep Training Diary
Tear drops in her eyes
Downturned lips
Quivering chin and nose
My baby is about to cry
She wants mummy to pick her up
Doesn't understand why
Mummy doesn't pick her up
Sleep baby sleep
We love you baby
Hard lesson
Harder for mummy
Perhaps
How does my Baby Grow?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
How Does My Baby Grow?
Tell me Tell me, how does my baby grow?
With Twinkling EyesAnd Dimpled Smiles
With Squeals of JoyAnd Peals of Laughter
That's how my baby grows!
(sung to the tune of Mary Mary Quite Contrary)
How Does My Baby Grow?
Tell me Tell me, how does my baby grow?
With Twinkling EyesAnd Dimpled Smiles
With Squeals of JoyAnd Peals of Laughter
That's how my baby grows!
(sung to the tune of Mary Mary Quite Contrary)
Baby's first words
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Baby's First Words
14 months old... is my baby's speech developing properly? A fairly common concern among parents I'm sure!So, to allay my fears, I'm listing out the words my baby can say - and let's see how I feel after that!
Baa baa (sheep)
Mum Mum (food, water, milk, biscuits)
Mummae (when she's very hungry in the middle of the night, asking specifically for milk)Aatha (that's me!)
Appa (whispered usually)
Aaya (maternal grandma)
Iyya (grandpa)
Aathappa (no idea!)
Thathathae (no idea!)
Iyyappa (no idea - or maybe God?)
boo (for moo)
wow wow (dogs)
kkoo (bird)
ot ot (hot)
co (cold)
Be be (said once so far - for baby)
uck (once, for duck)
cow (once, for cow)
So what do you think - not too bad eh?She understands a lot more than she speaks!A real joy watching her grow!
Baby's First Words
14 months old... is my baby's speech developing properly? A fairly common concern among parents I'm sure!So, to allay my fears, I'm listing out the words my baby can say - and let's see how I feel after that!
Baa baa (sheep)
Mum Mum (food, water, milk, biscuits)
Mummae (when she's very hungry in the middle of the night, asking specifically for milk)Aatha (that's me!)
Appa (whispered usually)
Aaya (maternal grandma)
Iyya (grandpa)
Aathappa (no idea!)
Thathathae (no idea!)
Iyyappa (no idea - or maybe God?)
boo (for moo)
wow wow (dogs)
kkoo (bird)
ot ot (hot)
co (cold)
Be be (said once so far - for baby)
uck (once, for duck)
cow (once, for cow)
So what do you think - not too bad eh?She understands a lot more than she speaks!A real joy watching her grow!
Read Me a Book!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Read Me a Book!
Having a baby really gives one tons of moments to treasure, only they grow up so fast that we tend to forget those moments sometimes..My baby is one year old, and I want to note the few I remember still before I forget them.
Yesterday, my baby picked a book for me to read to her, without my asking.I was having my dinner and reading the newspapers on the couch. She was playing but when she saw me sit down to eat and read, she went over to her own mini library in the hall.I thought she was well occupied playing with her books and I continued reading the papers.Suddenly she was at my knee, holding up a book : My Baby Elephant - and was clearly asking me to read it! she wanted to climb up on my lap for me to read to her!
What a moment! it was touching and sweet and heart warming all at the same time - at least for me! she was reminding me that I was 'ignoring' her to a certain extent.She also showed me that my nightly readings to her were having an impact - she liked them and had been looking forward to them! and if I were to forget about our ritual, she was going to remind me! and best of all - she was expressing her preferences for a particular book! When she was at her mini library, she had a choice of about 20 books at least - and she picked one that appealed to her. The best part - it wasn't even a book I had read to her that often! the books I read often are in the bedroom.
What a moment to treaure - my daughter aged one picking a book for me to read to her all by herself!
Read Me a Book!
Having a baby really gives one tons of moments to treasure, only they grow up so fast that we tend to forget those moments sometimes..My baby is one year old, and I want to note the few I remember still before I forget them.
Yesterday, my baby picked a book for me to read to her, without my asking.I was having my dinner and reading the newspapers on the couch. She was playing but when she saw me sit down to eat and read, she went over to her own mini library in the hall.I thought she was well occupied playing with her books and I continued reading the papers.Suddenly she was at my knee, holding up a book : My Baby Elephant - and was clearly asking me to read it! she wanted to climb up on my lap for me to read to her!
What a moment! it was touching and sweet and heart warming all at the same time - at least for me! she was reminding me that I was 'ignoring' her to a certain extent.She also showed me that my nightly readings to her were having an impact - she liked them and had been looking forward to them! and if I were to forget about our ritual, she was going to remind me! and best of all - she was expressing her preferences for a particular book! When she was at her mini library, she had a choice of about 20 books at least - and she picked one that appealed to her. The best part - it wasn't even a book I had read to her that often! the books I read often are in the bedroom.
What a moment to treaure - my daughter aged one picking a book for me to read to her all by herself!
Most Beautiful Baby in the World
Monday, January 11, 2010
Most Beautiful Baby in the World
Okay I'm going to now make a blatantly biased, completely one sided, totally unoriginal, probably one of the most repeated, and yet unashamedly true in every instant statement:My baby is the most beautiful baby in the world!I love being biased this way! and I am so happy to be part of the million mums who feel exactly the same way about their little darlings. Mummyhood is such a happening club to belong to!My little one is now one. how fast time flies. just awhile ago she was so small cradled in my arms. now she's still cradling in my arms but her legs stick out! and I caught a video of myself the other day - oh gosh! that proud look on my face as I talk about Akshaya to her equally doting grandparents. she'd probably gag at these videos when she grows up!Back to work, now!
Most Beautiful Baby in the World
Okay I'm going to now make a blatantly biased, completely one sided, totally unoriginal, probably one of the most repeated, and yet unashamedly true in every instant statement:My baby is the most beautiful baby in the world!I love being biased this way! and I am so happy to be part of the million mums who feel exactly the same way about their little darlings. Mummyhood is such a happening club to belong to!My little one is now one. how fast time flies. just awhile ago she was so small cradled in my arms. now she's still cradling in my arms but her legs stick out! and I caught a video of myself the other day - oh gosh! that proud look on my face as I talk about Akshaya to her equally doting grandparents. she'd probably gag at these videos when she grows up!Back to work, now!
Birthday Celebrations
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Birthday Celebrations
The year is coming to an end! Everyone exclaims how fast the year has gone by and it's true to some extent. However we had three really enjoyable parties recently that linger in my mind, and do not seem rushed at all. All three were for baby Akshaya's 1st birthday celebrations and all three were great fun for me and for her... I hope they were fun for the guests too!
Posted by meena at 5:05 PM
1 comments:
Meena said...
Had one more on Saturday - a pooja for her birthday on the day of her star sign. That went on very well too! Aayush Homam, followed by a Mandalabishegam at Thendayuthapani temple. Very nice - and she listens so intently to the Iyer saying the manthirams! And she started offering flowers and flower petals in exactly the way the Iyer taught us (the parents!)Very moving to watch her do this. Children do seem have an automatic unforced relationship with God. No wonder they say God loves children.
January 11, 2010 3:24 PM
Birthday Celebrations
The year is coming to an end! Everyone exclaims how fast the year has gone by and it's true to some extent. However we had three really enjoyable parties recently that linger in my mind, and do not seem rushed at all. All three were for baby Akshaya's 1st birthday celebrations and all three were great fun for me and for her... I hope they were fun for the guests too!
Posted by meena at 5:05 PM
1 comments:
Meena said...
Had one more on Saturday - a pooja for her birthday on the day of her star sign. That went on very well too! Aayush Homam, followed by a Mandalabishegam at Thendayuthapani temple. Very nice - and she listens so intently to the Iyer saying the manthirams! And she started offering flowers and flower petals in exactly the way the Iyer taught us (the parents!)Very moving to watch her do this. Children do seem have an automatic unforced relationship with God. No wonder they say God loves children.
January 11, 2010 3:24 PM
Sleep Training in Progress
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sleep Training in Progress
4 a.m.
You cry
Gently first
tremulously
then louder
and louder
She walks in
Speaks soothing words
No pick-up
though
and she leaves
You wail!
and continue
crying crying crying
Tears of anguish
Tears of anger
and she caves
Pick up!
You smile and cuddle and
coo into an imaginary phone
plant bite kisses on her cheeks
All is well with the world!
What a blessing to be like you
A heart that
bears no grudges,
that is filled only with
Love, Love and
More Love
Sleep Training in Progress
4 a.m.
You cry
Gently first
tremulously
then louder
and louder
She walks in
Speaks soothing words
No pick-up
though
and she leaves
You wail!
and continue
crying crying crying
Tears of anguish
Tears of anger
and she caves
Pick up!
You smile and cuddle and
coo into an imaginary phone
plant bite kisses on her cheeks
All is well with the world!
What a blessing to be like you
A heart that
bears no grudges,
that is filled only with
Love, Love and
More Love
Sleepless in Singapore
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sleepless in Singapore
My baby is not sleeping enough, nor is she sleeping through the night, she hasn't slept more than 3 hours in a stretch since she was born, 9 months ago. That is .... terrible. For her.Babies need lots of sleep for brain development, and my husband and I have been taking the easy way out by not teaching her to fall asleep on her own. WE are the culprits. This is a terrible weight to bear you know. and we MUST do something about it.Absolutely must.This is an important lesson for us in bringing up baby. sometimes we need to be firm and we need to do difficult things for her own good.God please give me the courage to do this and to do it well.
Sleepless in Singapore
My baby is not sleeping enough, nor is she sleeping through the night, she hasn't slept more than 3 hours in a stretch since she was born, 9 months ago. That is .... terrible. For her.Babies need lots of sleep for brain development, and my husband and I have been taking the easy way out by not teaching her to fall asleep on her own. WE are the culprits. This is a terrible weight to bear you know. and we MUST do something about it.Absolutely must.This is an important lesson for us in bringing up baby. sometimes we need to be firm and we need to do difficult things for her own good.God please give me the courage to do this and to do it well.
6 Months Forever
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
6 Months Forever!
My baby is six months old now, and a part of me is so anxious that this stage is passing by so quickly, I want to hold on to every minute and savour it. She'll only be 6 months once!and every day, I see something new she learns. It's amazing.
one day she's getting her first teeth.
the next she's learnt to turn over both sidesthe next she knows how to keep rolling in one direction!
the next she's turned 360 degrees in her cot
the next she's moving backwards using her legs to propel her
the next she's learnt to wave bye bye
the next she's trying to feed herself
the next she's crying to be picked up
it's unstoppable! not that I want to of course, but I want to capture every single minute of this miracle unfolding before my eyes.
6 Months Forever!
My baby is six months old now, and a part of me is so anxious that this stage is passing by so quickly, I want to hold on to every minute and savour it. She'll only be 6 months once!and every day, I see something new she learns. It's amazing.
one day she's getting her first teeth.
the next she's learnt to turn over both sidesthe next she knows how to keep rolling in one direction!
the next she's turned 360 degrees in her cot
the next she's moving backwards using her legs to propel her
the next she's learnt to wave bye bye
the next she's trying to feed herself
the next she's crying to be picked up
it's unstoppable! not that I want to of course, but I want to capture every single minute of this miracle unfolding before my eyes.
Where is the Milk?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Where is the Milk?
This is mildly depressing. I'm getting less and less milk as each day goes by, while pumping for longer and longer.Why am I doing this anyway? This feeling is compounded by guilt at whiling away 1 hour of office time on pumping, while also using my lunch time to do this. that's 2 hrs of good time being used to get much too little milk!and I can't and don't want to leave work late because I have a baby I want to get back to to feed.solife is reduced to a cycle of feeding, desire to feed, longing to feed, necessity to feed and pumping to feed laterand the pumping ain't going too wellnot in a good mood here, as one can tell
Where is the Milk?
This is mildly depressing. I'm getting less and less milk as each day goes by, while pumping for longer and longer.Why am I doing this anyway? This feeling is compounded by guilt at whiling away 1 hour of office time on pumping, while also using my lunch time to do this. that's 2 hrs of good time being used to get much too little milk!and I can't and don't want to leave work late because I have a baby I want to get back to to feed.solife is reduced to a cycle of feeding, desire to feed, longing to feed, necessity to feed and pumping to feed laterand the pumping ain't going too wellnot in a good mood here, as one can tell
Love, Shakespeare
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Love, Shakespeare
From Sonnet # 17 (addressed to an unidentified young man)
If I could write the beauty of your eyes ...
The age to come would say 'This poet lies: ...
But were some child of yours alive that time,......
You should live twice; in it and in my rhyme.
Who says it better than the bard?
Love, Shakespeare
From Sonnet # 17 (addressed to an unidentified young man)
If I could write the beauty of your eyes ...
The age to come would say 'This poet lies: ...
But were some child of yours alive that time,......
You should live twice; in it and in my rhyme.
Who says it better than the bard?
Mini Me
Had a look at my own baby photo yesterday... my daughter does indeed look almost exactly like I did when I was a baby! It was almost disconcerting, to tell the truth. I had produced my very own 'mini me'! The resemblence is uncanny if I may say so myself.Where will the similarities end though? I was kind of hoping my daughter would turn out far prettier than me! If she looks like me when I was a baby, will she look like me as she grows up too?
One of Shakespeare's sonnets come to mind here :Sonnet #3 (addressed to an unidentified young man)
"Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in theeCalls back the lovely April of her prime"
Amazing, Shakespeare's lines, written 600 years ago, still as relevant today as ever, holding resonance for us in the different stages of our lives!
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